Chapter 11... One of Us
I was enraged, my whole body shaking in anger as I ran. I violently bushwhacked my way through the forest, breaking off any large branches that dared get in my way like twigs. I was mad, madder than I'd been in a long time. And when I get mad, lets just say that's when things get...scary. As I continue to let the rage take over as I run, the deepest recesses of my powers start to kick in... my nails turn into long sharp claws. My once dull teeth grow into sharpened fangs and at the peak of my rage my eyes go pitch black. Like so many countless times before I allowed my emotions to take control over my actions. It was my greatest weakness and my greatest strength. If left unchecked my emotions could hold me prisoner, controlling my actions and pulling on my strings like a Grand Puppet Master. But when I will myself to focusing my emotions and use their power against my enemy's, I am unstoppable. The strong connection that I made in short time with Danny and his pack was helping me to do just that.
I shuttered and my eyes once filled with tears of rage cleared and shown brightly with new found determination. The anger was still there, but it was buried, ready to be unleashed at exactly the right time.
I looked deceptively calm as I entered the sleeping camp. (Guess they where not early risers)(my powers subsided and my features changed back to normal) I walked in my head slightly hunched over and my eyes showing a hint of psychotic rage. The darkest of smiles formed on my face as I hurled two fireballs from my hand into some nearby tents making them burst into flames. (Fire was one my powers that was deeply connected to my emotions) The screaming occupants fumbled out of their tents, one with their tail on fire. The commotion had woken up most of the camp, even the leader which stood out with the fresh bandage on her head (courtesy of me). They were all out in the open now. That was exactly what I wanted, now they would all see what the price is for messing with my friends. Amid the chaos of the leopards scrambling to put out the fire, one of the leopards recognized me as their leaders attacker and from the death glares I was getting she wasn't the only one.
By the time the fire was put out the tents where just smoldering piles of ash. Barely a cinder.
"You hurt the wolves, didn't anyone ever warn you to never wound what you can't kill." I said at them all with venom (mainly directed at the leader)
"Let us rectify the that problem." The vile female leader said coarsely
Then she lunged at me, but she immediately had to draw back when I sent a cascade of fireballs her way.
"What are you?!" The leader said in fear
"I'm your worst nightmare and your worst fear all combined into one convenient FATAL package." I said darkly
Then my whole body suddenly burst into dark purple flames as a result of the rage I'd been holding back all this time. My features changed again, black eyes, fangs and claws slowly grew. All the terrified clan could do was look on with horror some even falling to their knees in shock, some begging and pleading for their lifes through their own tears as my flames grew even bigger and more threatening. I made my point even more by scorching the ground around me with some large and very explosive fireballs. I began to levitate off the ground about 10 feet my lips forming a sinister smile that put Shen's to shame.
Then my face turned sour, bitterly angry and vengeful...
"YOU HURT MY GANG AND NOW YOUR GOING TO PAY!" my voice boomed
"THANKFULLY FOR YOU I'M FEELING A TAD MERCIFUL TODAY SO ILL SPARE YOUR PATHETIC LIFES!"
"ANY QUESTIONS?!"
-There was silence all except a few terrified whimpers from the leader and her clan.-
"THATS WHAT I THOUGHT!" I boomed
I slowly lowered myself my flames going away and my features turning to normal once more and approached the terrified and groveling leader/clan members all huddled together much like the wolf cubs from before. I took out the paper document and handed it to their trembling leader.
"Now your going to sign this like a good girl, isn't that right?" I asked in a demeaning tone, clearly showing in my voice what would happen if she refused.
All she did was nod shaking and quickly signed the paper.
"Good girl, now if you ever threaten me or my gang again...I'LL RIP YOU LIMB FROM LIMB!" I snarled
They all just nodded staring at me wide eyed none of them daring to even get up. I walked up close to them got down and whispered in the leaders ear "Oh and if you mention anything that's happened here to anyone, it will be the last thing you ever do." I breathed darkly.
"Now we wait, I am sure Shen will be pleased at your new found...cooperation." I said loud enough for the whole clan to hear.
As soon as I ran off The Wolf Boss totally freaked out thinking that I was going to go and get myself killed. So he ran to get Shen, my gang and a few of his men and they all ran after me. Needless to say it wasn't long till they showed up.
As they walked in on the camp there mouths gaped at the sight they saw (even Shen had to pick his beak off the ground). Me standing above a cluster of very scared, and utterly defeated clan members along with there leader. Some where still in tears of confusion and fear, and others just in a state of hopelessness.
I smiled at my comrades. "Me and the Gen-su had a little...talk, needless to say they won't be a problem anymore, isn't that right?" I addressed both my comrades and the leader of the clan.
"Please! We will do anything you want, just call this she demon off! Please!" pleaded the broken leader.
(hmmm she demon, that's a new one I mussed to myself)
After Shen recovered from his shock he walked proudly over to me and I handed him the document.
"Now that is how you deal with the enemy, no mercy." Shen said praising me
I scoffed at him indifferently and made it clear I wasn't the least bit pleased with him, which he annoyingly ignored and gave me a slight bow which I had no intention of returning. After all it was all Shen's fault for sending them on this damned impossible mission anyway.
Shen went over to the clan likely to gloat and tell them the conditions of their surrender, I was very disinterested in that though, politics and treaties never ceased to bore me.
I walked over to a still gaping Wolf Boss and men. (plus my gang who where practically in a shock induced trance)
"How...di..did...yy-oo...you...DO THAT?!" The Wolf Boss managed to stammer out.
"You should see what I can do if you give me weapons." I replied smugly
This was the first time the Wolf Boss realized I was completely unarmed which only made him gap wider.
"This goes to show why no one messes with my friends, no matter how powerful my enemy's think they are." I said proudly
The Wolf Boss smiled at the word friends.
"I'm glad you think that highly of us." The Wolf Boss said
"Are you kidding you guys are awesome, I wasn't about to let these cowards get away with what they did to you." I replied boasting
The Wolf Boss was at a loss for words and so where the wolves around him, never had someone referred to them as awesome before, they where used to Shen's constant abuse and downgrading of them. Or villager's fear and hatred of them. Someone actually complimenting them for once was refreshing.
"Thanks for coming after me anyways though, but as you can see I never take on more than I can handle." I said
"After Shen gets done with his gloating or whatever he's doing over there I'd like to go home as soon as possible, defeating an army is very tiring with a mortal wound."
"We can go now if you want and I can leave a few of my men here with Shen, just in case." The Wolf Boss offered
"That sounds good, but I hardly think it's necessary to leave men here, I scared the fight right out of those Gen-su." I said proudly
"True, but better safe than sorry." the Wolf Boss said as he divided up the 14 men he had with him and him, me, my tongue tied gang and the rest of the men started off for our camp.
Next Morning
I woke up at 4am way before anyone else, I'm a very early riser. I wanted to be alone so I could train without any interruptions. (by this time we where all back in camp including Shen) (Since Shen was satisfied that the Gen-su would not be a problem he allowed them to stay at their camp with a warning to never defy him again and a promise to use them later for his own gain) I decided it was way to risky to use my powers, so I practiced ninjutsu. (I needed to stop relying on my powers so much anyways) I decide to practice in a small clearing in the forest near the camp.
First of all I meditated, which was something I always did regularly to keep my emotions in check. It was even more important for me now, due to my resent lapse in control. I breathed in deeply my legs crossed as I felt the wind brush against my face. I did this for about an hour in total calmness barely even moving. When I was finished I got up feeling refreshed and ready for anything, It was 5am now so I reasoned that no one else would be awake for a few more hours. I first did some stretching excises and warm up routines. Then I got around to actually practicing fighting stances. Unfortunately since there was no one around yet I was stuck with pretending that the various trees in the area where my opponents. I ran up to a tree as fast as I could, punching it with all my might causing it to literally split down the middle. Once again this made an ear crunching sound (I have to learn to fight quieter!). I cringed hoping I didn't manage to wake anyone up like last time. I looked around anxious to see any prying eyes and to my surprise standing no more then 10 feet away was a gaping Wolf Boss.
"That was AMAZING! You gotta teach me how to do that!" he said excitedly
"How long have you been standing there?" I asked nervously
"I saw the whole thing, how do you even do that stuff?!" he asked
"Well, it takes a lot of practice, precision, and training, that reminds me I did say that I would teach you a few moves, that is if you are still interested." I said
"Of course I'm still interested! When do you want to start?" the Wolf Boss asked
"What about now?" I said
"Now?" the Wolf Boss said surprised
"Yeah now, it is the most important time after all." I said motioning him to come over.
Since I haven't got the chance to see you fight much I'll need to see what your strengths and weaknesses are." I said
"So I want you to attack me, and don't hold anything back." I told him
"Are you sure that's wise, I mean come on your still wounded."
"Excuse me but who took on an army single handedly yesterday?" I asked slightly annoyed
"You." he said sheepishly
"That's right, and if I can do that then handling you will be no problem, So ATTACK!"
He immediately charged and charged hard. He was fast but not fast enough, and his blows would have been extremely powerful. Maybe even enough to knock me down had he been able to land any of his punches.
He kept throwing punch after punch at me but I easily dodged them all.
"You are very powerful but you lack grace and balance." I calmly said as I dodged another one of his punches.
"You also fight with your anger instead of focusing and keeping a calm mind, your emotions can blind you if you let them." I said as the Wolf Boss finally gave up out of exhaustion and bent down panting.
"What are you trying to teach me fighting or dancing?" The Wolf Asked
"Those are very important attributes every warrior must have, balance, precision, grace, and focus are all very important to learn how to fight well." I said plainly yet a little annoyed at his comment
"Also your endurance could use some work as well, we haven't even been fighting that long and your already exhausted." I said to him
"So what now?" he asked still panting a bit
"Now we have a lot of work ahead of us." I said
"If your serious about learning from me I expect you back here tomorrow 4am." I said
"In the morning?" He asked pitifully
"Yes in the morning that's what A.M. Means, It is just an hour earlier than you got up today." I said plainly
"Well, I wouldn't normally get up this early, I only did so because I really needed to talk to you, your excellent fighting just distracted me for a while." he said
"Well, I'm listening." I said expectantly
He took a deep breath and his face turned serious but still friendly, like what he had to say was very important.
"Look, I know you haven't been here long but you have formed such a bond with me and my pack, you protected and fought for us with such determination and passion, you even went as far to risk your own life to avenge the pack and you did so without a second thought and that shows me you really and truly care about us, that is why I and my pack want you to become one of us, a true pack member." he said with feeling
It took a second for what he said to sink in and when it did it took all I had not to burst into tears of joy. Maybe this is what I wanted to find in this world all along, a place were I feel I truly belong. It was surly more than I could hope to find in my world, but could I trust the pack yet, only time would tell.
"You really mean that?" I said almost choking on my words
"Yes of course I do, you deserve it and I would be honored to call you one of my pack." he said reassuringly
Before I even realized what I was doing I was giving him a big hug. He seemed surprised by this but was more than happy to hug me back.
"You have no idea what this means to me!" I exclaimed passionately as my voice cracked and tears started forming in my eyes.
"I've never been part of something like this before, I promise not to let you down." I said as I finally broke away from the hug.
"You could never let me down." he said sweetly
"Thank you so much." I said as I got my voice back
"You're welcome." he said tenderly
"Tonight we make in official!" he declared as I smiled up at him
It was the first genuine smile I had since I've been in this world, no psychotic tinges, no evil, just pure joy.